Facts and figures

Cancer statistics in Australia

It is estimated that in 2024 there will be around 169,500 cases of cancer diagnosed, and around 52,700 deaths from cancer in the same year.
In 2000, there were around 88,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia. Most of the increase in diagnoses is due to increases in population size, and increasing numbers of people reaching older ages. Increasing cancer survival rates also increase the gap between incidence and mortality rates.
For the years 2016-2020, around 71% of people diagnosed with cancer survived five years after diagnosis. In some cancers such as breast, prostate and melanoma, the survival rate was higher than 90%. In the years 1991 - 1995, the cancer survival rate was 55%.
Almost one in two Australian men and women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
Males continue to be more likely to be diagnosed with cancer although the difference between males and females in 2024 is less than it was in 2000.
Cancer incidence rates for the young are increasing with 20,000 cancer cases estimated to be diagnosed in the population aged under 50 in 2024.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia – and in 2024, 3 in 10 deaths are estimated to be attributable to cancer.
In 2024, it is estimated that around 8,900 people will die of lung cancer in Australia. This is the most common cause of cancer-related death.
The most common cancers in Australia (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) are prostate, breast, melanoma, colorectal (bowel) and lung cancer.
Melanoma rates have increased from 53 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to an estimated 70 cases per 100,000 people in 2024. Since 1996–2000, 5-year melanoma survival rates have been a little over 90%. In 2024, 1,340 deaths are estimated to be from melanoma.
In 2016-18 there was $252 million in funding provided for cancer research projects and programs in Australia.